Composite Center Fuselage for First F-35 Aircraft in Japan Completed

Northrop Grumman recently announced it has completed the center fuselage for the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft to be assembled in Japan’s F-35 Final Assembly and Checkout (FACO) facility in Nagoya, Japan. According to Northrop Grumman, the center fuselage, which was made with composites and will be known as AX-5, will be integrated into an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant.

“Today’s event marks another significant step toward helping the Department of Defense produce a fifth-generation, multirole fighter that can meet the common air combat requirements of the U.S. and its allies,” said Brian Chappel, Vice President and F-35 program manager at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Using our Integrated Assembly Line, we’re continuing to increase the affordability and quality of the F-35 center fuselage, while steadily increasing our production rate. Our success is helping the F-35 industry team meet the operational need dates of our international customers.”

According to multiple reports, the center fuselage is a core structure of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Northrop Grumman designed and produced the center fuselage for all three F-35 variants. The AX-5 center fuselage is one of 42 center fuselages that Northrop Grumman will produce for Japan.

Northrop Grumman notes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will be tasked with the final assembly and checkout of the Japanese F-35As. The process includes combining the center fuselage with the forward fuselage/cockpit and wings produced by Lockheed Martin and the aft fuselage produced by BAE Systems.

Structural composites in the F-35 are 35 percent of the airframe weight. The majority of these are bismaleimide (BMI) and composite epoxy material. According to Flightglobal, the F-35 is the first mass produced aircraft to include structural nanocomposites such as carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy.

ABOUT Composites Manufacturing

Composites Manufacturing is the official publication of the American Composites Manufacturers
Association. Published bimonthly, it offers practical assessments of the current state of the
composites industry as well as thoughtful explorations of the opportunities and challenges
ahead. It includes timely coverage of core market segments, materials, processes and
technical education plus topics such as sustainability, plant safety, operational efficiency and research advances. Subscribe to Composites Manufacturing Magazine.

ABOUT ACMA

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world's largest trade group representing over 3,000 companies in the composites industry in North America alone. ACMA is recognized as the premier provider of composites industry educational resources through its CAMX show, conferences, and Certified Composites Technician (CCT®) program. It serves its members and the industry by providing strong, proactive leadership in growing the composites market and technical, legislative and regulatory affairs.